If we don’t start, it’s certain we can’t arrive.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Nothing is too high for the daring of mortals: we storm heaven itself in our folly.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
If you aspire to the highest place, it is no disgrace to stop at the second, or even the third, place.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Meanness looks through one eye only, ambition is blind.
—Russian Proverb
Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I’d place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs.
—Hugh Walpole (1884–1941) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Dramatist
The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
No man rises so high as he knows not whither he goes.
—Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) British Head of State, Military Leader
He, who opens his heart for ambition, closes it for the rest.
—Chinese Proverb
Though ambition itself is a vice, it is often the parent of virtues.
—Quintilian (c.35–c.100 CE) Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
The person who starts out simply with the idea of getting rich won’t succeed; you must have a larger ambition. There is no mystery in business success. If you do each day’s task successfully, and stay faithfully within these natural operations of commercial laws which I talk so much about, and keep your head clear, you will come out all right.
—John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) American Oil Magnate, Philanthropist
Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
Though ambition may be a fault in itself, it is often the mother of virtues.
—Quintilian (c.35–c.100 CE) Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
To be ambitious of true honor and of the real glory and perfection of our nature is the very principle and incentive of virtue; but to be ambitious of titles, place, ceremonial respects, and civil pageantry, is as vain and little as the things are which we court.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.
—Christopher Marlowe (1564–93) English Playwright, Poet, Translator
Ambition makes more trusty slaves than need
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
All of us perform better and more willingly when we know why we’re doing what we have been told or asked to do.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
As falls the dew on quenchless sands, blood only serves to wash ambition’s hands.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Action often precedes the feeling.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
The comfort zone takes our greatest aspirations and turns them into excuses for not bothering to aspire.
—Peter McWilliams (1949–2000) American Author, Activist
We should, I believe, beware of the pitfalls described by Taine: ‘Imagine a man who sets out on a voyage equipped with a pair of spectacles that magnify things to an extraordinary degree. A hair on his hand, a spot on the tablecloth, the shifting fold of a coat, all will attract his attention; at this rate, he will not go far, he will spend his day taking six steps and will never get out of his room.’ We have to get out of this room.
—Robert F. Kennedy (1925–68) American Politician, Civil Rights Activist
Do not let big ambitions overshadow small successes.
—Unknown
Ambition is a vice, but it may be the father of virtue.
—Quintilian (c.35–c.100 CE) Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
The tallest trees are most in the power of the winds, and ambitious men of the blasts of fortune.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Ambition thinks no face so beautiful, as that which looks from under a crown.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
The tragedy is that so many have ambition and so few have ability.
—William Feather (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
Ambition and fleas jump high.
—German Proverb
Too often those who entertain ambition, expel remorse and nature.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The slave has but one master; the man of ambition has as many as there are people useful to his fortune.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Ambition has but one reward for all: A little power, a little transient fame; A grave to rest in, and a fading name!
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
Of all kinds of ambition, that which pursues poetical fame is the wildest.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principals which direct them.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
‘Tis not what man does which exalts him, but what man would do.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
We must love stupid people better than ourselves; are they not the really unfortunate ones of this world? Do not people without taste and without ideal grow constantly weary, rejoicing in nothing, and being quite useless here below?
—George Sand (1804–76) French Novelist, Dramatist
I do not fear failure. I only fear the “slowing up” of the engine inside of me which is pounding, saying, “Keep going, someone must be on top, why not you?”
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
Say what we will, we may be sure that ambition is an error. Its wear and tear on the heart are never recompensed.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Wisdom alone is true ambition’s aim, wisdom is the source of virtue and of fame; obtained with labour, for mankind employed, and then, when most you share it, best enjoyed.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
It is a psychological law that whatever we desire to accomplish we must impress upon the subjective or subconscious mind; that is, we must register a vow with ourselves, we must make our resolution with vigor, with faith that we can do the thing we want to do; we must register our conviction with such intensity that the great creative forces within us will tend to realize them. Our impressions will become expressions just in proportion to the vigor with which we register our vows to accomplish our ambitions, to make our visions realities.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
—Kenny Rogers (1938–2020) American Country, Pop Singer, Actor
It is the constant fault and inseparable evil quality of ambition, that it never looks behind it.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
When we do more than we are paid to do, eventually we will be paid more for what we do.
—Zig Ziglar (1926–2012) American Author
We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
When performance exceeds ambition, the overlap is called success.
—Cullen Hightower (b.1923) American Humorist
When you go in search of honey you must expect to be stung by bees.
—Kenneth Kaunda (1924–2021) Zambian Statesman